NHL Recent Player News

The New Jersey Devils have lost top center Travis Zajac for four to six months with a pectoral injury. Devils executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero announced that Zajac had surgery to repair the pectoral muscle on Thursday. Shero said the Zajac was hurt last week during offseason training.

Analysis: Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow performed the surgery and estimated that Zajac's recovery time could last until February. The season starts in October. The 32-year-old Zajac had 14 goals and 31 assists last season. He has 155 career goals and 280 assists. He has played for the Devils since the 2006-07 season. The 20th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, Zajac signed an eight-year, $46 million contract in 2013.

The Wild and Cullen have agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract, bringing him back to his home state for a 21st season in the NHL.

Analysis: Cullen played the last two years with Pittsburgh, winning consecutive Stanley Cups with the Penguins. He played three seasons for the Wild from 2010-13, his first return to Minnesota since launching his career at Moorhead High School and St. Cloud State. Cullen, who will turn 41 on Nov. 2, had 13 goals and 18 assists in 72 games in 2016-17 for the Penguins.

The Oilers have signed Draisaitl to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $8.5 million.

Analysis: The extension runs through the 2024-25 season, similar to the eight-year, $100-million extension superstar captain Connor McDavid signed with the team in July. With the signings, the Oilers are banking on McDavid and Draisaitl providing a potent one-two punch for the team as it looks to build on last season's return to the playoffs after a decade of futility. Draisaitl, a 21-year-old German, had 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) last season, his third in the NHL.

Analysis: Gionta, 33, spent the first seven years of his career in the New York area, playing for the Devils for six seasons before joining the Islanders last season. Brian Gionta's younger brother had six points in 26 games with the Isles.

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed Schmidt to a two-year, $4.45 million deal after claiming the defenseman from Washington in the expansion draft.

Analysis: Schmidt scored 17 points in 60 games for the Capitals last season before scoring four points in 11 playoff games. The 26-year-old Minnesota native was among the most valuable players acquired by the Golden Knights during the expansion draft in June.

Chychrun had surgery Thursday to repair a knee injury that he suffered this week during offseason training.

Analysis: Chychrun is expected to make a full recovery, according to the Coyotes, but will be out indefinitely. The team said it would provide an update at the start of training camp in mid-September. Chychrun, drafted 16th overall last summer, had seven goals, 13 assists and 47 penalty minutes in 68 games as a rookie with the Coyotes last season.